AFC Rushden & Diamonds interest in the UCL Knock Out cup ended at the Dog & Duck on Tuesday evening when they suffered a 3-2 defeat by Huntingdon Town. With a full 11 changes from the team that started on Saturday, an own goal from Liam Bond gave the visitors the lead they deserved, until a late rally at the end of the first half brought the Diamonds an equaliser from Jake Gillingwater just before the break, after an effort from Lance Allen was scrambled out to him following a fumble of a Diamonds corner from keeper Trebes.
Quincy Shorunmu had made an excellent stop in the first half, and he made two more in the second to keep the scores level. Prior to their opening goal, the Diamonds only threatened following a run from Jack Wisniewski that resulted in a wayward shot, and a header from Séan McBride at a corner that went over the bar.
Although the Diamonds rarely tested the Croms keeper in the second period, he had to pick the ball out of his net again when a Louis Smith free-kick was headed over him by defender Victor Torres. The Diamonds lead did not last long as Declan Rogers fired home a free kick, and then a breakaway goal saw Ben Seymour-Shove net the winner with about 5 minutes remaining.
The Diamonds gave a debut to Rashid Koriya, with Liam Bond stepping up from the U21 side, and Mason Thomas also made his debut as a late substitute. Louis Smith started on the left of midfield, but was moved alongside Dent and McBride in the centre of midfield as the Diamonds played in a 4-5-1 formation with Lance Allen up-front.
The Diamonds can now fully focus on the Second Round Qualifying of the FA Cup with Budweiser, where the Diamonds will host Cambridge City on Saturday 28th September KO 3pm.
Diamonds Man of the Match: Quincy Shorunmu
Attendance: 266
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AFC Rushden & Diamonds |
Huntingdon Town |
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13. Quincy Shorunmu 2. Liam Bond 3. Rashid Koriya 4. Sean McBride 5. Jake Gillingwater 6. Arron Parkinson (c) 7. Jack Wisniewski 8. Elliot Dent 9. Ben Morgan 10. Lance Allen 11. Louis Smith Subs 12. Nat Liburd (for Morgan 72) 14. Fazel Koriya 15. Alex Deakin (for Bond 90+1) 16. Mason Thomas (for Allen 85) 17. Tom Cross |
1. Tim Trebes 2. Pat Bexfield 3. Ash Yeomans 4. Declan Rogers 5. Victor Torres 6. Ricky Dear (c) 7. Stuart Eason 8. Micky Hyem 9. Ben Seymour-Shove 10. Jacob Joyce 11. Dan Moyes Subs 12. Curtis Fulcher (for Dear 90+2) 14. Jack Warwick (for Rogers 89) 15. Niks Savalneiks (for Joyce 74) 16. Jake Watling |
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Goals: Gillingwater (44), Torres (o.g. 73) |
Goals: Bond (o.g. (16), Rogers (75), Seymour-Shove (84) |
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Yellow Cards: Wisniewski |
Yellow Cards: None |
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Referee: Mr Wayne Chalmers Assistants: Mr Mark Connolly & Mr John Fowler |
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For video highlights and post-match interviews see here.
